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April 7, 2020 is Election Day

Here's what you need to know:


 

I hope this message finds you and yours well. I'm writing today to provide some important final updates regarding the April 7 election. Since my last update, many things have changed, so please read through the information below thoroughly.

 

IMPORTANT: Tuesday, April 7, in person voting will be available from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at polling locations across Wisconsin.

 

A few polling places in Portage County have changed locations, so be sure to confirm where you should go to vote. You can find your polling location by searching your address HEREYou can also see detailed information about polling location changes and other election details for Portage County HERE.

 

Governor Tony Evers signed Executive Order #74 today to postpone in-person voting for the April 7 spring election until June 9, 2020 and direct the Legislature to meet in special session tomorrow (April 7) to address the election date. However, the order was immediately challenged by Republican legislative leaders, and the Wisconsin Supreme Court blocked it from being enacted. You can read more about what happened HERE, and my statement in support of the governor's action HERE.

 

Last week, a federal judge ruled to extend the deadline for voters to submit absentee ballots to their local clerk, giving voters until 4 p.m. on Monday, April 13. He also lifted the witness requirement for absentee ballots, as long as voters could provide a written affirmation that they could not safely get a witness signature due to coronavirus fears. However, these rulings were struck down.

 

Voters submitting absentee ballots must be sure to include a witness signature, and all absentee ballots must be either hand delivered to the clerk or postmarked no later than April 7 at 8 p.m.

 

Any voters who already submitted an absentee ballot without a witness signature should work with their local clerk to request a new absentee ballot in person and fulfill the requirement. You can find your local clerk's contact information HERE.

 

The deadline to request a mail-in absentee ballot has already passed. If you requested your ballot but have not yet received it, you can track its status HERE. One option available to you is to contact your local clerk to ask them to email your ballot to you, so that you can print it, fill it out and hand deliver it. It must be received by April 7 at 8 p.m.

 

Please note that the witness signature requirement and April 7 at 8 p.m. deadline to postmark or deliver your absentee ballot are the most up-to-date information and supersede all previous information, due to several court rulings.

 

 


 

Staying Safe On Election Day

Tomorrow's election may look a little different than when you've voted in the past. If you are planning to vote in person tomorrow, please remember to:  

  • Listen to poll workers and follow their instructions
  • Try to have patience if the process takes a little longer than usual
  • Practice social distancing by maintaining a space of 6 feet between yourself and those around you
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes (respiratory etiquette)
  • Bring your own black or blue pen
  • Wash/sanitize your hands thoroughly before and immediately after voting
  • Consider covering your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover. You can see CDC guidance on this HERE. Please do not use a facemask meant for a healthcare worker.

You can see further guidance from the CDC on how to protect yourself from exposure to COVID-19 HERE

 


 

What About the Special Legislative Session?

I have been vociferously advocating for an all-mail election for weeks, and I strongly supported Governor Evers' recent request for the Legislature to convene in a special session on April 4 to move to an all-mail election, send a ballot to every registered voter who has not already requested one by May 19, and extend the time for those ballots to be received to May 26.

 

Unfortunately, legislative leaders in both houses decided to convene and immediately end session without taking up any legislation. Governor Evers' Executive Order today also called the legislature into special session to move the election date tomorrow (April 7), and it is not yet known if we will be in session. I believe now is the time to transcend politics and do what is right to protect the public health.

 

You can read more about the extraordinarily brief special session HERE, and you can see my full statement from Friday urging my colleagues to convene and implement these changes for the public health HERE.

 

I hope you and your family stay healthy and safe. Thank you to our health care workers, poll workers, clerks, essential workers, and everyone working around the clock to better our community!

 


As always, if you have any additional questions or concerns, please feel free to contact my office by phone at 608-267-9649 or by email at Rep.Shankland@legis.wisconsin.gov. 

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